Hersrial tktfss



WILLIAM M. BONWILL, OF GAMDN, DELAWARE.

HERNIAL '.ritss.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 12,266, dated January 23, 1855.

To all whom t may concern.' Y

i Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. BoN- WILL, of the town of Camden, Kent county, and State of Delaware, have invented a new and Improved Truss for the Two Inguinal and the Umbilical I-Iernia; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists in combining in one truss, a single, a double, inguinal, and an umbilical truss, which may be use advantageously for either alone or for the three combined.

First, I construct a circular hoop made of steel which passes around the waist of the patient between the top of the hips and the bottom of the lower ribs, see letters A, A, A, A, as far front as the front part of the hips B, B, thence bending in a curve at.

B, B, and passing down in front to the groins opposite to the ruptured parts Vor internal abdominal rings at C, C, with two extra holes D, D, with a hinge F, in the middle of the back of the hoop at E, E, with two extra holes G, Gr. Thus I describe the entire hoop of myv truss. The hoop is divided at E, E, into two equal parts, to be joined together again by the hinge F by 4 screws, O, O, .0, O, making the entire hoop complete. I shall now speak of this hoop as a truss. The strop I, passing from H, to H, across or over the navel of the patient horizontally, to which the pad K, is fixed or attached forming the truss for umbilical hernia and the pad K, is to be used in a case of that kind, the strop I, binding the truss firmly together around the waist. The strop L, passes horizontally across the groins of the patient at the pads M, M, to prevent the truss from opening too much in case of a violent strain letting the bowels pass out, thus making the truss almost immovable, while other trusses now in use will be slipping out of place and throwing the pad off the rupture and the bowels escaping out. The great superiority of this truss over all others, consists in that of its passing around the waist of the patient as before described, affording a great support to the ruptured parts, and to the adjacent parts generally by the strops I, and L, binding the truss irmly together, preventing the truss from moving either way. The use of the hinge F, is a matter of convenience in putting on and taking 0E, preventing also the hoop from ybeing strained too much, and also making it fit 7the more easily. The two extra holes in the hinge F, at G, G, are for the purpose of making the hoop larger to suit the case. The front part of the hoop C, C, passing down opposite to the abdominal rings and is supported by the truss extending around thewaist, the hinder part of the truss N, N, resting against the back of the patientmaking a fulcrum while the front of the hoop C, C, forms the lever. The two extra holes D, D, in the point of the hoop are used to make the truss larger. The two pads M, M, which are attached to the end of the hoop C, C, are so formed and placed as to press on the internal abdominal rings, thence directly down over the canal and bears firmly upon said external rings, preventing the bowels from passing down. The pads M, M, are both to be used in a single -as well as in a double inguinal hernia. I

have tried a single pad on one side of the hoop at C, andfnd that it will not answer so well, owing to the leverage at C, being on one side only it is apt to twist the truss around oli the rupture. The double pads are therefore more pleasant to wear, and the leverage in the double pads is equal on both sides, which prevents the truss from being moved without great force from its place. Thus this truss may perform, if occasion require, the oihc'e of the three trusses consolidated into one. This as it issaid by Professor Gibson of the Pennsylvania University and ,others has never been done before. It has been thought that pressure made upon the spermatic veins is the most ready way to cure cirsocele, a disease of the spermatic veins. If so this apparatus will form the most easy yet permanent support or pressure ever yet invented or used. The pads M, M, rest directly over and upon the spermatic veins or cord in the same manner as when used in hernia on either or both sides.

Another great advantage in this truss is that the whole hoop may be made of untempered steel, owing to its great length yielding so regularly. This, from its location, will prevent the hoop from all danger of breaking. It may possibly however in very violent strains or falls become bent, but it may be easily replaced to its proper shape and office-another advantage over all others in use. Other trusses from the shortness of their spring and from their location (being Worn around the pelvis) and from their being made of so high tempered a material, are constantly liable to be broken and often are broken. This truss of mine aHords a pleasant support to the back of the patient and to the ruptured parts, and to all the adjacent parts generally. Any person having once worn one of my trusses will never wear any other in use. I have myself Worn several kinds of trusses, but always found the best of them exceedingly unpleasant and bungling, very hard to keep in place, not keeping the bowels up nor answering as they should do the purpose intended. This same complaint has been general by others who have worn them so far as my knowledge both as a practitioner and a close observer extends. These considerations induced me to endeavor to obviate the aforesaid difliculties. The drawing before you exhibits a truss which exactly meets the case. It is an original idea of my own, suggested by personal necessity. I have never seen, heard or read of anything like this truss, until I made it. I have worn one of these trusses for three years, on my own person, with the greatest pleasure and with the greatest alleviation of personal suering.

I do not claim the hinges F, F, the adjustability of the pads, or the form of the hoop, separately, but what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, is,

The combination of the peculiarly formed hoop with the umbilical pad and strap, for the purpose of preventing the movements of the body from displacing the pad in either umbilical or in inguinal hernia as set forth.

Camden, Del., May lll/53.

WILLIAM M. BONWILL.

Attest RoBT. GARDE, Trios. SIMPSON. 

